Wax compositions



United States Patent" WAX COMPOSITIONS- Jolm-W. Padgett, Montclair, N. J., assignor to Moore & Manger,- NemYQt-k; MYa'afirm No. Drawing. Application February 1 19 52,

SerialaNo. 269,585;

12 Claims. (Cl. 106---270) This invention relates to improvements in wax compositions, and methods of coating paper therewith, and in the coated paper so produced.

The improved wax composition of the present invention is a petroleum wax composition suitable for coating paper and containing a small amount, less than about 1%, of a solid oil-soluble polyglycol ester such as nonaethylene glycol distearate.

This composition is particularly advantageous for the coating of paper, enabling the packaging or Wrapping machine to be operated at an increased rate and with improved slip without reduction in gloss or blocking resistance.

The present invention is concerned particularly with a composition for decreasing the friction between surfaces of waxed articles, such as waxed paper and paper board, when the surfaces in contact are moving past one another.

Often waxed paper and paper board are transported to the user in the form of sheets stacked horizontally in cartons. When the sheets are being utilized from the stacks they are taken away by hand or by machine action and it is important not only that the sheets do not block or stick seriously, but that there be a minimum of friction of the waxed surfaces as they are moving in contact.

I have found that certain polyglycol esters which are solid and wax soluble, such as commercial nonaethylene glycol distearate, decrease friction of waxed surfaces to a marked degree when present in very small percentages in petroleum waxes used for coating paper.

A compound which I have found particularly advantageous is the commercial product sold under the trade name Paraspread, which is a polyethylene glycol ester of a higher saturated fatty acid such as stearic acid. This product has a melting point of around 29 to 32 C., a saponification value of around 120 to 130, an acid value of around to 14 or less and contains about 58% fatty acids of low iodine value, around 5.2, and can be considered a commercial nonaethylene glycol distearate.

The amount of this wax soluble ester which is combined with the parafifin or other petroleum wax is a small amount, less than about 1%, and advantageously used in smaller amount, e. g., around 0.3%.

This ester is soluble in the wax and readily blended therewith, for example, in amount corresponding to 0.3% of the Paraspread dissolved in a paratfin wax having an original Tinius-Olsen tensile strength of 95 pounds per quarter square inch and a melting point of 140.8 F. AMP (ASTM--D8742).

Such a wax composition can be used in wax coating machines to particular advantage, giving increased feed or speed of the machine.

The wax with which the ester is used may be ordinary paraffin wax but is advantageously a fractionated paratfin wax, fractionally distilled to remove both heavy and low ends and non-normal paraffin type constituents and 2,783,161 Patented. Feb. 26, 19,51

2 control oftheoil content so that the tensileis in; a suitably low range and the wax is not too flaky.

The waxes with which the ester is used may also be microcrystalline. waxes which are. suitable for coating paper, for example, a petroleumcer'esin having an ASTM petrolatum melting point (D127-.,49) of from; approximately 170 F. to.210. F. and a, needlepenetrationat 77 F. (ASTM DS ZS, 5 seconds, IOOgrams) ofv approximately from 3 to 15, tenths of a millimeter.

The waxes with which the ester-is usedmayalsobc mixtures of 'microcrystalli'ne and parafiin waxes such as are used for coating paper. Mixtures in all proportions of microcrystalline Wax suitable for coating paper and paraflin wax can thus be used, for example, a mixture containing of paraffin wax and 10% of a petroleum ceresin having an ASTM petrolatum melting point (D127-49) of approximately 170 F. to 210 F. and a needle penetration of 77 F. (ASTM D5-25, 5 seconds, grams) of approximately from 3 to 15 tenths of a millimeter; or a mixture containing 90% of parafiin wax and 10% of a so-called amorphous type of microcrystalline wax having an ASTM petrolatum melting point (Dl27-49) of approximately F. to F.

and having a needle penetration (ASTM 135-25, 5 seconds, 100 grams) of approximately 15 to 35 tenths of a millimeter.

Paper can be coated with the new wax composition in ordinary Waxing machines by passing the paper or carton through the Wax bath in the usual way.

The coated paper is characterized by low friction and improved slip, such that sheets of paper or paper board coated with the composition not only do not block or stick seriously but have an improved slip and low friction when the surfaces move in contact with each other.

1 claim:

1. A wax composition consisting essentially of papercoating petroleum Wax containing a small amount but less than 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

2. A wax composition consisting essentially of papercoating paraifin wax containing a small amount but less than 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

3. A wax composition consisting essentially of papercoating microcrystalline wax containing a small amount but less than 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

4. A wax composition consisting essentially of a mixture of paper-coating paraffin and microcrystalline waxes containing a small amount but less than 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

5. The method of coating paper which comprises applying thereto a molten wax composition consisting essentially of paper-coating petroleum wax having incorporated therein a small amount but less than about 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

6. The method of coating paper which comprises applying thereto a molten wax composition consisting essentially of paper-coating paraffin wax having incorporated therein a small amount but less than about 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

7. The method of coating paper which comprises applying thereto a molten wax composition consisting essentially of paper-coating microcrystalline wax having incorporated therein a small amount but less than about 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

8. The method of coating paper which comprises applying thereto a molten wax composition consisting essentially of a mixture of paper-coating parafiin and microcrystalline waxes having incorporated therein a small amount but less than about 1% of nonaethylene glycol distearate.

9. Waxed paper coated with a wax composition consisting essentially of paper-coating petroleum wax conand microcrystalline waxes containing a small amount but less than about 1% of nonaethlyene glycol distearate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,374,931 Gritfin May 1, 1945 2,456,283 Jefierson Dec. 14, 1948 2,595,158 McCue et al. Apr. 29, 1952 2,625,491 Young et a1. Jan. 13, 1953 2,637,665 Dodge May 5, 1953 2,642,366 Rumberger June 16, 1953 10 2,684,948 Cross July 27, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Chemicals by Glyco, Glyco Products Co., Brooklyn, New York, copyright, 1944, page 6. 

1. A WAX COMPOSITION CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF PAPERCOATING PETROLEUM WAX CONTAINING A SMALL AMOUNT BUT LESS THAN 1% OF NONAETHYLENE GLYCOL DISTEARATE. 